The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • The vanity of wealth

    In finance, we learn that money is anything that is generally acceptable as a medium of exchange. In the present world, this implies that there is virtually nothing anyone wants to do, that will not include money, even when one does not have it at hand. One always thinks or dreams of it.

    That is why some people are always in deep thought whenever they are in need of money; some become hypertensive while some commit suicide because they cannot make money to satisfy their personal and family needs.

    In the Scripture, God tells us that: “Money answereth all things, but the love of money is the root of all evil”. From this biblical verse, it is clear that money can make anybody that wants it and, at the same time, can destroy such a person.

    A novelist in the Unites States was also reported to have said: “Money is the root of all evil, yet it is such a useful root that we cannot get on without it anymore like we can without potatoes.” The power of money cannot be underestimated because it could be used to solve various problems in the home front and societal ills.

    In Nigeria, this is the case. Our leaders always throw money at any problem that threatens the unity of the country. This is ýwhy people in all parts of the nation have become obsessed with money so much so that it has bred corruption.

    Corruption has become endemic, especially among politicians and civil servants. Youth, students and teenagers are also affected by the malaise. The affluent and the poor want to get money at all cost.

    For poor students in the higher institutions, they always see their peers who come from wealthy homes as angels and wish to be like them, forgetting the fact that all fingers are not equal. Female undergraduates who cannot wait for their time engage in prostitution, going out with sugar daddies. The guys become cultists and notorious armed robbers to get money to impress their peers on campus.

    There are many example of corruption that will continue to ring in the psyches of Nigerians. We have the scandal involving a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was accused of contract inflation to the tune of N894 million by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

    Another that keeps ringing a bell in the mind of the people is that of Hon. Farouq Lawan, a member of the House of Representatives, known as Mr Integrity. Lawan’s integrity was tainted when he allegedly collected a bribe from Mr Femi Otedola, a business man, whose oil company was part of the indicted firms that defaulted subsidy largesse.

    As I write this, the EFCC is still in court to prosecute the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in a multi-billion corruption cases.

    All these instances indicate that money is the basis of evil. Everybody wants to have it. The rich want to get more of it to impress and oppress the poor, while the poor want to have to make the point that making money is not the exclusive preserve of the rich.

    In all, it should have been clear to us that all is vanity upon vanity. Where are the rich people of yesteryears? Where are their riches? Money has both the good and bad ends. We should all devote more time praying for our lives and the country so that God can intervene and stop the corruption cesspool into the nation has sunk.

     

    Muibat, recently finished from Mass Comm., MAPOLY

  • Corps member builds toilet for school

    A 2012 Batch ‘B’ member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Miss Ogochukwu Okoro, has donated three toilets to the Ansar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Akungba-Akoko.

    Miss Ogochukwu, an indigene of Anambra State and a graduate of Microbiology from the Anambra State University, Uli, also donated 12 school uniforms and 10 pairs of sandals to indigent pupils in the school.

    She said the materials and facility cost about N800,000, praising the management of AAUA and some staff of the university for their contributions to the project.

    She said: “I thank God for giving me the grace to make people happy. I want to specially appreciate Prof Femi Mimiko, the Vice-Chancellor of AAUA, and the members of staff for their support during the course of the project.”

    The Corps member, who said she was fulfilled with the handing over of the facility to the secondary school, noted: “Life is not just how happy you are but how happy others can be through you. I have always had the desire to affect the society positively; that is why I embarked on project we are inaugurating today.”

    Thanking the Corps member, the Principal, Mr Sulaiman Arogundade, who was excited by the project, said: “It is a surprise for us that a Corps member could have the wisdom to do something like this. Imagine, a Christian corps member executing a project of this magnitude in a Muslim school.”

    He said the Corps member had demonstrated good leadership ability and prayed to God to give her grace to contribute more to the society.

    The NYSC Zonal Inspector, Mr A.O. Ogunfidodo, praised Ogochukwu for exhibiting one of the core motives of the NYSC scheme.

    The inspector called on individuals, communities, corporate bodies and government agencies to continue to give support to Corps members in their areas, stressing that such support would enhance the development of the society.

    A special prayer session was held for the Corps member by pupils of the school. The Akungba chapter of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria conferred a title of Yeye Atunluse Adinni of Akungba land on the Corps member, while the beneficiary school honoured her with a plaque of meritorious award.

  • Mission to save the environment

    Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) in partnership with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) organised a training for 200 women in two communities in Sokoto State on ways to reduce environmental degradation. HALIMAH AKANBI (200-Level Law, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto) reports.

     

     

    NO fewer than 200 women in Gumbi and Dundaye communities in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State have benefited from the Committed to Green initiative and empowerment programme of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

    The aim of the project, supported by the United States Embassy, is to reduce environmental degradation in rural communities in the country.

    In 2011, SIFE entered into a partnership with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc to address the challenges of desert encroachment and to reduce the suffering of the affected communities through education and equipping the women with adequate skill and knowledge about the danger of the act.

    The combined approach seeks to address the environmental sustainability and economic empowerment, which will make SIFE students to work with women within the affected communities to plant economic trees that will shield the earth. The initiative is also expected to provide the people means of livelihood and stoves that will reduce the amount of energy required for cooking by 80 per cent.

    The students are expected to also provide briquette machine that transforms agro-waste into environmental-friendly materials, which can be used as alternative to firewood and train 100 men and women within the affected communities in viable skills to make them economically independent.

    The main auditorium of Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS), Sokoto was filled to capacity when the programme started at 3pm. The rural women were to be trained for eight weeks on the production of briquettes, which forms the bulk of deforestation activities embarked on by local communities in northern Nigeria. The women would also produce 80 stoves that will cook food in 15 minutes.

    Sokoto State Governor State, Aliyu Wamakko, represented by his Commissioner for Environment, Dr Muhammad Kilgori, described the “Committed to Green” project as a brilliant initiative, which he said was in line with his administration’s programme to enhance the environment. He reiterated his government’s support for of empowerment of women and youth in the communities.

    The US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Terence McCulley, praised the resolve of the women and youths to reduce environmental degradation. While noting that Nigeria is one of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world, McCulley said he believed Africa could be the next world economic success if people were ready for the challenge.

    He praised the organisers and partners in the SIFE project, saying the initiative was helping youths to secure their future. He said President Barack Obama believed Africa and America were partners in creating growth, adding: “The seed one plants today may one day grow to provide sustainable source of growth for the society.”

    In her address, SIFE Country Director, Mrs Adesuwa Ifedi, praised the effort of SIFE students in UDUS in propagating the aims and objectives of the NGO in Sokoto communities. She noted that the project was successfully launched in Katsina State, hoping the initiative would also succeed in Gumbi and Dundaye.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Risikuwa Arabu Shehu, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof A.A. Bagudo, said the university, as part of its community service, had been making efforts to discourage deforestation through its energy research centre by providing power for the host communities, thereby reducing the need for firewood. He pledged support for the green project.

    The 80 stoves and wonder boxes (pots) were presented to the communities’ heads by Ambassador McCulley and Managing Director, Northern Region of FCMB, Mr Adam Nuhu.

    A beneficiary, Mallama Fatimah, who expressed gratitude to SIFE, said she was looking forward to a successful completion of the eight-week training.

    The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Dr Ibrahim Magawata, in his closing remark, urged the SIFE team to monitor the beneficiaries’ activities during the training. He also advised the beneficiaries to be focused in the course of the training.

    The SIFE Programme Manager, Mr Michael Ajayi, said briquette was a new source of energy made from agro-waste, sawdust and dry leaves among others. He said the machine burns slower and cooks faster, thereby saving time and energy.

     

  • Legal crossfire at UNILORIN

    Legal crossfire at UNILORIN

    Law students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, beat eight other universities to win the Moot and Mock Trial competition organised by the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). OPEOLUWA SONUGA (400-Level Law, OAU) reports.

     

    The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State has won the Mock and Moot Trial contest held at University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

    The competition was part of the week-long activities marking the Law Week of the Faculty of Law, UNILORIN, in honour of frontline lawyer Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Alli (SAN).

    The programme, which started last Monday, also featured oratory contest. Six universities – Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, and Ilorin study centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) – participated in the moot competition, which was the qualifying round for the mock trial held three days later.

    The competition began at 10am last Tuesday in three courts. Each team must appear in two courts throughout the moot stage with a single judge.

    The moot suits were centred on human rights issues within the Republic of Sambawa. The cases were composed of gay rights and quota for women representation in the National Assembly.

    Each of the teams appeared once as applicant and as respondent in the moot trial. Only two counsel were allowed to argue for each team. Written memorials of the teams were marked by judges and the scores were added to the scores given for oral arguments canvassed by counsel.

    At the end of the trial, BUK and OAU emerged with the highest scores, proceeding to the final lap of the competition – the mock trial.

    On Wednesday, the oratory contest was held with three universities joining the fray, making nine contestants. The institutions were Ekiti State University (EKSU), University of Ibadan (UI) and the host, UNILORIN.

    The nine schools fielded two speakers, who vied for the N40,000 prize. The topic for the oratory contest was: The abuse of social media. OAU team won the contest and carted away the cash prize. UNILORIN team came second, winning N30,000, UNIZIK team took the third place prize of N20,000.

    Adebayo Caleb, 400-Level Law, led the OAU team.

    To relieve tension, the participants, on a picnic, went to the UNILORIN zoo.

    The next day was the mock trial, the final lap of the competition. The teams of the two contending universities – BUK and OAU – were in high spirits for the contest. Students and lecturers attended the programme, which started with oath taking by the accused and reading of the charges.

    Afterwards, the prosecution counsel (OAU team) then went ahead to open their case.

    The case was on rape of a female student in Kalakuta University of Science and Technology by her lecturer, a professor in the university. Details about the rape claim were sketchy, but the prosecution counsel were expected to establish the case beyond a doubt.

    The prosecution called three witnesses; the victim, the medical doctor and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO). They were led in examination-in-chief, cross-examination as well as re-examination with two documents accepted and marked as exhibits by the court.

    After the prosecution closed its case, the defence counsel entered a “no case submission”, which means that the prosecutor has not adduced enough evidence to warrant the accused’s trial. After citing several authorities to support their case, the prosecution counsel were given an opportunity to reply.

    Ruling on the “no case submission”, the judge held that the accused had a case to answer. The defence counsel then called the accused, Professor Olorounbi, who denied the allegation. He was also cross-examined before the defence counsel closed their case.

    The opposing counsel were given an opportunity to prepare their final addresses for 10 minutes and argue their cases for another 10 minutes. Aliyu Imam, lead counsel for the defence team, addressed the court alongside his co-counsel: Tobi Adebowale, lead counsel for the prosecution also addressed the court alongside his co-counsel, Adebayo Caleb.

    The OAU team was declared the winner of the mock trial, carting away the N60,000 cash prize. The BUK team came second and UNIZIK, third.

    The Best Critique went to the University of Ibadan (UI), the Best Memorial went to UNIZIK and Best Counsel in moot rounds went to Aliyu Imam of BUK.

     

  • Fed. vasity distributes 100 computers to staff

    Fed. vasity distributes 100 computers to staff

    The management of the Federal University, Wukari, in Taraba said on Tuesday it distributed 100 laptop computers to its staff to foster an ICT- based education system at the  institution.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Geoffrey Okogbaa, stated this at the second matriculation of the institution on Tuesday in Wukari.

    The vice chancellor urged the matriculating students to prepare their minds for a moral and an ICT-based education that would enable them to meet up with the challenges of modern society.

    He warned the students against engaging in anti social vices, stressing that the institution would punish any student found misbehaving.

    “I urge you to resist any overture to join groups that operate clandestinely and canvass violence.

    “We will not tolerate those who seek relevance by embracing a counter culture that leads to self destruction.

    “Shun secret cult, extortion, intimidation, prostitution, examination malpractice and other vices,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 420 students were matriculated into the three faculties of the institution at the occasion.

    The institution is currently running the faculties of agriculture and life sciences; pure and applied sciences and humanities as well as management and social sciences.

  • Mass Comm elects leaders

    Mass Comm elects leaders

    Members of the National Association of Mass Communication Students (NAMSCO) at the Imo State University (IMSU) have elected new officers. The election was preceded by an accreditation.

    Charleson Ovoh was elected the president with 126 votes, defeating his opponent who got 115 votes.

    Speaking to CAMPUSLIFE, Charleson said: “I am so excited by the result. This election is a reflection of the confidence reposed in me by members.”

    A member of the electoral committee, Maxwell Okorie, said: “The election was transparent and the students voted candidates of their choice. Obviously, the election reflected the choice of the students.”

     

  • Varsity inducts radiographers

    Varsity inducts radiographers

    The Department of Radiography and Radiological Science at the Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, University of Calabar (UNICAL), has inducted 42 graduates into the Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN).

    The ceremony was held at the International Conference Centre.

    Acting Registrar of RRBN Mr Michael Okpalaeke presented the new radiographers for induction.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Epoke, congratulated the graduating students and urged them to practise their profession with ethical standards as prescribed by the board.

    He said: “The induction signifies the professionalism in education as reflected in the results and performance of our graduates.”

    The Provost of the College of Medical Science, Prof Saturday Etuk, admonished the graduands to be focused.

    The Dean of the faculty, Prof Anne Asuquo, described the inductees as great men and women endowed with sound academic and professional wisdom. She said the graduates had been trained to choose the path of excellence through hard work and commitment.

    In his congratulatory message, the Acting Head of the Department, Dr Nneoyi Egbe, charged the graduates to be good ambassadors of the department.

    The event featured award presentations to Prof Epoke, Prof Asuquo and Prof Etuk.

    Speaking on behalf of the graduating students, Christian Udo, who bagged four awards as the best graduating student, thanked the staff of the department for their effort and encouragement throughout their stay.

     

  • Yoruba students crown Oba

    Yoruba students crown Oba

    Yoruba students at the Moddibo Adama University of Technology, Yola (MAUTECH) under the aegis of Yoruba Students Association (YOSSA) last Saturday dressed in various traditional attires to mark the crowning of a new king (Oba) and the inauguration of executives of the association.

    Bayo Nurudeen, 500-Level Information Technology, is the new king.

    The occasion, which started at 11am, in front of the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, attracted a large crowd of students and staff, including the patron of the association, Prof Babatope Alo.

    The outgoing president, Olatunde Jeje, 400-Level Electrical Electronics Engineering, thanked his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to serve them and for making out time to attend the event.

    He reminded them of the goal of the association, which is to promote unity and love among Yoruba students in the university, irrespective of their states of origin. He charged them to always promote their culture and desist from acts that could taint the image of the association and the race.

    The incoming president, Sunday Ajibade, 300-Level Construction Technology Education, promised to work closely with the Oba and his council to ensure that the goal of the association is achieved.

    Others crowned included the Olori (king’s wife), Nurat Mahmud, 500-Level Information Technology; Otunba (king’s right hand man), Oladimeji Buhari, 500-Level Microbiology; Asiwaju (a chief), Opeyemi Ajibade, 400-Level Economics and Yeye of Yoruba students (women leader), Kafayat Oyewole, 400-Level Accounting.

     

  • Dept elects leaders

    Dept elects leaders

    Students of the Department of Optometry at the Imo State University (IMSU) have elected new officers into the vacant posts of their association. 383 students were accredited by the Nigerian Optometric Students Electoral Committee (NOSEC) to participate in the process.

    The election, which lasted five hours, started after a debate between the two presidential contenders, Nnanna Diogu and Gift Nwanaga. During the debate, the audience asked for the candidates’ achievements in the previous posts they held. The debate was followed by manifesto reading.

    The NOSEC chairman, Wisdom Atulegwu, said 100-Level students would not be allowed to participate in the process because they did not have Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) at the time of the election. But the students contested the rule, which made the electoral body to rescind the decision.

    When the results were announced, Gift was returned as the president-elect with 246 votes, defeating Nnanna, who had 131 votes. Other positions were also won.

    A 500-Level student, Kelechi Anusiem, said: “The process was peaceful and I must praise my colleagues for displaying maturity during the election.”

    Felix Onwudi, 400-Level student, said: “Today’s election is actually the best I have ever witnessed in this faculty. There was true evidence of transparency, accountability and responsibility. The students showed full commitment and unity.”

     

  • Behold the whizz kids

    Behold the whizz kids

    Five years ago, the quintet were admitted into the faculties of Education and Engineering of OAU. Since they are from different backgrounds, Oluwasayo Oladeji, Kingsley Adio, Damilola Akapo, Onaopemipo Aikomo and Fredrick Atoyebi never knew fate would bring them together years later.

    Last Monday, the undergraduates made history in their quest to break into the Information and Telecommunication Technology (ICT) world. They launched a mobile application that simplifies dissemination of news to users.

    The computer programme, BooshParrot, is a mobile application with a web client that fetches news feeds from websites and blogs within and outside Nigeria, and presents them to the user in one single view. The application provides subscribers the opportunity to read different stories from different websites at the same time and also simultaneously follow their friends’ comments and feeds on other websites.

    The application, which is designed to work on Nokia S40, Android and Blackberry smartphones, has an array of features, including personalisation that allows users to create profiles and set profile pictures.

    It also has a social network section where users can search and follow other users’ comments and activities. It allows synchronisation of users’ profiles with the mobile device applications.

    Oluwasayo, 500-Level Computer Science and Engineering, is the team leader. Kingsley, also a final year student of Computer Science and Engineering, is in charge of the Java ME application (Nokia S40 series) and the Blackberry versions of the application.

    Damilola, 500-Level Computer Science and Engineering, works on the development of the native Android version of the application Onaopemipo, also a final year student of the department, is responsible for the web client and graphical designs of the application used by the team.

    Fredrick, who is the project manager and also a final year student with Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), is responsible for co-ordinating the team and making sure the application meets required standard.

    On why they embarked on the project, Fredrick told CAMPUSLIFE: “Getting the day’s headlines and breaking news from numerous blogs, online newspapers and news websites in Nigeria and beyond has been a challenge for the busy person until now. Going through bookmarked websites, one at a time is time consuming, strenuous and sometimes costly.

    “Hence, we saw the need for a platform where headlines and snippets from popular and trusted sources are aggregated and collated and delivered in real time to the user. We sincerely hope the application will make it easier for users to read articles as they are written. For us, it is not just an achievement; it is our way of contributing to the digital demands in Nigeria,” he said.